Barriers to Mental Healthcare
Texas, the lone-star state, has the highest rate of uninsured residents at 16.6%. This rate has decreased over the years, however, approximately 1 in 5 Texans do not have health insurance.
Due to the lack of coverage in Texas, a poll done by the Episcopal Health Foundation found that uninsured adults are more likely to postpone treatment due to cost, and Texans are more likely to have a primary care provider if they have health insurance. Additionally, children in Texas are twice as likely to be uninsured when compared to other youth populations in America. The areas that are most impacted by lack of insurance are mostly in the largest cities, El Paso and the Rio Grande Valley, where the uninsured rate is above 25%.
Of the states insured population, 6 in ten plans are employer sponsored and self-funded, and 4 in ten are fully insured. This is an important statistic to be mindful of when it comes to underinsurance for mental health care. If insurance is self-funded, they are not required to cover Mental Health or Substance Use services. If they do offer those services, then they must be at the same level of coverage as physical illnesses. Further, if Texans are fully insured, then their insurance must cover mental health care, but the rate of Texans that are fully insured is much lower than those that are self-funded. This is in accordance with the Texas Insurance Coverage and Parity for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder law.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Health
Reference/Source
1 in every 5 Americans
Nearly 1 in every 5 Americans experience a mental illness.
1 in every 20 Americans
Experience a serious mental health episode each year.
43% of working Americans
Lack sufficient mental health insurance coverage.
Nearly 1 in every 10 Americans
Are uninsured. Americans struggle with rising living costs.
The Financial Strain of Mental Health Care
Patients paying $20 co-pay for weekly therapy spend $80 monthly. Many psychiatry practices shift to cash-only models due to low insurance reimbursement. Out-of-network rates are $300 for initial appointment and $150 for follow-ups. Costly for average Americans, contributing to 66.5% of U.S. bankruptcies from medical debt.